Reclaiming apparatus



y 1939- T. A. LA BmzcQuE RECLAIMING APPARATUS Filed No v. 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q INVENTOR v vf/twdore fl. Laflrzqm' ATTORNEY May 30, 1939. T. A. LA BRECQUE 2,159,994

- RECLAIMING APPARATUS v 4 Filed Nov. 14, 1936 ZSheets-Sheet 2 J I L;

N a *3 I I H Q TILE I I INVENTOR g Header! flfaflrwyae ATTORNEYs Patented May 30, 1939 hair-en STATES ml or E.

Theodore A. La, Brecque, Elmira )L,- assignortoThe. Hilliard Corporation, Elmira,.N. Y., a. corporation. of New-York Application November 14, 1936; Serial No'l: 11o,847- 1 Claim. (Cl. 196.16).

Thisinvent'ion relates to" a' structurally and Fig; I is a sectional side-view of the apparaiunctionally improved reclaiming-apparatus and ms;- aimsto provide' an' apparatus of animproved na- Fig; Z we sectional side view of a pump unit tureover that disclosed in my prior application which-preferably formsa-p'art of'such assembly, Serial No: 7343500; filed July-'10, 1934; ior* Re'- this view being-takerralong-thelines- Z Zand fining apparatus and method. in the direction ofthe-arrows of Fig. 3

Viewed froma more specific aspect, it is an Fig; 3- is a'transv'erse sectionalviewtaken object of tlrainvention to provide-arr apparaaIoIig-the-1i r1*es4.*- .andin tl ledirection-ofthear tus of this nature which is capable ofbeingused rows of Fig. 2; and i in connection with numerous types of liquids, Fig. i is a-sectioiial sidevi'ew of a valve 10 but which' is primarily intended for employment maybe enrployed'particularly where a number of in connection with the reclaiming of oil. reclaiming units form apartof one as'sembly'.

Assucrh, it is' an object of-the invention to In these viewathennmeral'Fi indicatesatank furnish a unit" of this type and which may be whieli receives the fluid tobe"--'reclaimedi. This 1 5 advantageously and-'readily'utilizedby ordinary tan preferably h adjacent its base a drain 6 garages and" service stations'aswel'l' as" central and disposed the tank is a cylinder 1 stations receiving spent oil or similar fluids from which has open endsthroiigh the-upper of wh-ic'h a number of individual garage or service men; the fl'uid'tdhc reclairrledispoured: Witlra View Moreover, the apparatus may readily'beoperated te'preventii-igthe-"entrance of solids intdth-is by unskilledemployees' to'furnish entirely desir= tank a screen r'nay'be mounted in the cylinder able and satisfactory results; and "this timeitwi'llbe observed that the lower 'An additional object" is that of designing a edge-of the" cylinder: terminates well above the reclaiming apparatus whichm'ay hemore'or less base of the tan-k A-n outlet9"extends through permanently coupl'ed'to a-power-uni't su'c'h asa' the'wali of the tank at a point Well above the 5 Diesel engine plant; and'whichwill operate in base of the iatterand' this outlet is connected suchmanner'as to' constantly reclaim: and, if within the tank to a flexible" tube Hi" supported desired, red'eiiver the "oil to the" unit; by afloat H to have its-ihta'lre end l2 normally A further" object of the invention issthat-of lie wel-l belowthe surfaee orth'e fluid disposed providing a reclaiming apparatus which will he withirrthe tan-k.

3 of extremely compact construction'arld which, It-is-ohvious-th'at by thisarrangement"arrop Hit is desired to increase theoapacity, 'this'may erator may simply casually discharge 'dirty' oil be accomplished without expensive rebuilding or'si'milarfluids'intdthe cylinder "I" and large operations. particles of foreign matterwill remairi'iri con A still further object is that ofconstructing ta-ct'w-itli" the-screentflv-hieli may be -period'i*--' a'unit of this type and'in" which such'partsas cally cleaned? Water-and'otherliquids havinga: 35

require periodic inspection and renewal may relatively high specific" gravity will settle to readily receive propertre'atment; such tr'eatwardstlie bottorrrof' tlietanhand these-together ment involving minimum'exp'ense and requiring withsuch'ilnpurities-as pass through the screen but a small amountof' time-onthe-partofan 8"} may "be periodically withdrawn through the 40 operator. Aside from such renewal treatments; drain 6. The intake end of pipe l2; due to the 40 an apparatus constructed inaccordance with the -ma-nnerit is 's'upported, will 'alwayswbe teachings of the'present invention will require in su'cl i positiorr'that-tl lere wil be no danger or no attention'whatsoever, despite the fact that it aire'nteri ng'through-this conduit Whileat the will function continuously or periodicallyas' desametime-this tu be will 'be located so tha't-it will sired by the user. be =reeeivihg fiiiid from the best possible-strata; 4 5

An'addition'al object is that'of furnishing a orzone within the This-Will, ofcourse; unit of the character described which will embe true forthe reason thatany' small particles body relatively few parts each individually simor foreign -material will not 'reach the-zone in ple and rugged in construction, and operating which the intakeend" 12 01 the tube islocated over-long periods of time with freedom from all because-to such arposition theywould: have difficulties. tor-pass downwardly witl' iir-i cylinder T, past the With these and other objects in mind, referlower edge o'ftll'e same, and; thenupwardly to once is bad to the attached sheets ofdrawings the: zonech the-tubeend: i2 is disposed. illustrating onepracticali'embodiment of" the in- 'Ilie samewill be true (if-foreign liquids which; if

venti'on, and in which: they l iave' a.'- tendency to stratify towards the 55 lower end of the tank, may readily do so while if they have a tendency to rise, they will remain within the upper end of the cylinder.

The outlet 9 is connected to the main reclaiming apparatus as, for example, by a tube I3, which is preferably flexible so that the tank 5 may, if desired, be shifted within limits with respect to such apparatus. Such tube connects to a pipe E l within which is interposed a cut-off valve lb. The pipe has its discharge end connected to a cylinder l6 mounted on the frame l of the unit and operating within this cylinder is a piston E8 connected to a rod !9. Adjacent the discharge end of the cylinder a check valve 25 is provided. A seating of this valve is assured by a spring 2i, the tension of which is adjusted to an extent such that a deliberate and power actuation of the piston i3 is necessary to assure unseating of the valve.

With a view to actuating the piston rod 19 a yoke 22 is provided and this yoke is connected to a pitman 23. The rod I 9 is conveniently screw threaded and connection between the yoke or cross-piece 22 and the rod may be assured by the use of clamping nuts 24. It is thus obvious that by loosening these nuts and adjusting the same, the piston may have its zone of travel varied to increase or decrease the amount of fluid discharged by cylinder l6.

Such discharge occurs into a pipe 25 with which a bulb 26 may be coupled so as to even out the flow of fluid and prevent the creation of a surge. Likewise, if desired, pipes l4 and 25 may be connected by a by-pass 2?, the flow through which may be regulated by pressure relief valve 28. In this manner, if undue and improper pressures occur, no damage will result to the parts because the fluid will simply be recirculated. Pipe 25 is continued upwardly through the frame of the machine and may have a valve 2% interposed in its body. The construction of this valve and its purpose will be hereinafter more particularly described, but at this time it will be observed that pipe 25 is extended inwardly at a point beyond the valve and in the form of a coil or loop 30.

Mounted adjacent the upper end of the frame I? is a casing, including side walls 3|, which is normally sealed by a cover 32. This cover may be hingedly mounted as at 33 and clamped in sealing position as, for example, by wing nuts 35 mounted upon screw threaded rods 35. Positioned below the casing is a base 36, the upper face of which is roughened. While such roughening may include a number of desired configurations, it is preferred that the same include a series of pyramidal projections. Adjacent its center the base is recessed to accommodate a screen plate 37, and at which point it is formed with an opening 38.

The base or lower portion of casing 3| includes a perforated plate 39 and this plate is positioned upon base 36. Interposed between these surfaces is a layer of material 40 conveniently mounted and retained in position by a ring 4| underlying plate 35 and encircling side walls 42 upon which the base 36 is mounted. Preferably the fabric to is canvas, although other materials may be employed, and it will be obvious that this layer will generally conform to the projections presented upon the upper face of base 36, although it will never be capable of completely conforming to the trough portions or channels presented between these projections. Asa consequence the latter will never be completely obstructed and fluid may flow' through the same toward the screen plate 37 and opening 38. At this time it is also to be noted that interposed between the fabric layer 40 and plate 39 is a layer 43 of filtering material such as suitable paper, so that fluid, in passing through the openings of plate 39, will have to traverse the layer of filtering paper 43 as well as the fabric layer 40, before it may flow between the projections of base 36 to the opening 38.

Arranged above plate 39 is a mass of filtering material. While this mass of filtering material may include various types of filtering material, it has been found to be preferable to utilize fullers earth. This is scattered upon plate 39 until it has reached a depth substantially equal to one-half the height of walls 3|. At this point a layer 45 of filtering material such as blotting paper is preferably arranged within the casing, and the casing is filled to a greater depth with a mass of fullers earth 45 and above this there is disposed a layer of cotton waste or similar material 46. This entire filtering body is compressed by a coarse screen 4'! which may be weighted as at 48 and/ or which may be provided with springs 49 contacted by the under-face of the cover, so as to firmly press the screen against the upper surface of such filtering body. Ordinarily, when thus compressed, such body may rise within the side walls to the position shown in the drawings, although it may include a mass of material which may fill this casing portion to one-half its depth. Thus, additional space is furnished for filtering material to be used where a large amount of oil or other liquid to be reclaimed is passing through the body or where it is desired to not frequently renew such body.

The coil 39 has its outlet end connected to a flexible tube 50 which may include heat insulating characteristics. The end of this tube discharges through an opening 5| preferably centrally disposed in the cover 32. As afore brought out, Walls 52 extend below the base 36 and these define a space within which a unit 52 is disposed. This unit, as taught in my prior application afore referred to, may embrace a generally conical body having upon its upper face a series of arcuate baffles. The end of each of these bafiles is spaced from a transversely extending wall 53 to an extent such that an aggregate tortuous passage is presented extending from the center of body 52 to the edge thereof, at which point liquid may discharge through an opening 5 3. The opening 5% is coupled by a pipe 55 to a cylinder 5% within which a piston similar to piston I8 acts and. within which there is also preferably disposed a check valve assembly similar to that heretofore described at 20 and 2|. This piston is actuated by a rod 51 connected to the cross-piece or yoke member 22, and fluid is discharged from this cylinder through a tube 58 which is connected to a receiving tank (not shown).

In this manner it will be obvious that pitman 23 serves not alone to pump. fluid to the filtering unit, but also serves to distribute the reclaimed fluid. This pitman is driven by a motor 59, the shaft of which may conveniently mount a fan 68 and serves to drive a worm and worm wheel (not shown) disposed Within casing 61. The worm wheel rotates a plate 62 towhich the upper end of pitman 23 is coupled, and it will be observed that any proper adjustment may be included, so that if desired the stroke of the pitman. may be varied. The driveishaftIis-scontinued beyond the casing 6 land couplesiwith aivacunm pump'generally indicated as at 65L This pump has its intake end coupled as-at Biiitoas distillate receiving tank 6 11 Such. tank is connectedlby'a coil 68 with the interior 'of the=casing within which unit 52 is disposed, and it will be appr'e' ciated that the fan 60 not alone serves-to -cool the motor, but als'olact's'to circulate air past the coil 58, thus-emphasizingthecondenser feature of the latter.

Now, with'a viewto providing means-which will serve to separate distillates from the fluid pass.- ingthrough opening 38, it'will be observed'that a. suitable heater 69 is employedpreferably at a point below unit" 52. The degreeof heat'may be regulatedby a controlm and within which in well known manner, a thermostat may be provided to' constantly maintain the temperature for which the unit'has beens'et. It will also be observed that the coil 30 'is disposed closely adjacent the heater '69 and according to an ideal setting of these parts, it has been'found desirable to maintain the heater activeto a pointwhere the coil has a temperature'of approximately 300 F., while the-unit 52 and the chamber within which the same is disposed is-maintained at a temperature of from 350 F. to 400 F. It is thus perfectly obvious that water and undesired distillates will be vaporized within the chamber occupied by unit 52 and drawn off through coil 68. The outletend of vacuum pump 66 discharges into a casing 'H' in turn'havingan outlet pipe 12 which is preferably extended to the outside atmosphere and it will be noted that this pipe has connected to it a relatively minute discharge tube !3 so as to provide for a constant discharge of moisture from this exhaust line.

In operation it is to be understood that the operator will fill casing 3| with filtering material, as afore specified. If oil is beingreclaimed, he will dump oil into tank 5. He will now throw the switch 14 which is connected in a conventional manner to actuate motor 59'and heater 69. Of course, prior to these operations the zone "and range of travel of the piston ill will have been adjusted to conform to the requirements of the particular apparatus under. consideration. Thereupon, oil that is reclaimedwill flow through tube I3, cylinder l6 and tube 25. Also, as afore brought out, if some obstruction exists, the bypass 21 will function to prevent damage to the parts. A surge flow will be prevented, as for example, by bulb 26, and fluid will flow upwardly through tube 25 and coil 30 where the emulsions will be broken up. In its flow from the coil the liquid will not be materially cooled by the time it passes through opening 5| because of the heat insulating characteristics preferably embodied in tube 50. The oil will pass through the layers of filtering material defined by the walls 3| and thence through the openings in plate 39. Thereupon it will flow through the layer of filtering material 43 as well as the fabric 46, and screen plate 31, to pass through opening 38. The oil will flow through the tortuous passages of the vaporizer unit 52 and will be heated during such flow. As a consequence the distillates will be sucked out of this chamber and through condensing coil 68 while the oil, relieved of such distillates, will flow through opening 54 and tube 55, through pump cylinder 55 and to a convenient receptacle. Such distillates as are not deposited within tank 61 will flow through the same and through the passage 66 and pump 65 to casing 1'' l I andtubei I2 and beisuitably discharged, it being observed: againasl afore': brought out that"v duei toz the relatively/small discharge tube-.113; moisture. will betexhausted from this line;-

Itfis; .of-icourse; to be understood that in additi'on to: providing. by-pass 21-, a circuit" breaker (not: shown) may be included. in the linev to switch 141* Accordingly- "an additional safeguard will be furnished'ainflthe eventof the electrical load becoming tooigreat'. As will alsobe noted, cleanaout plugs 'l5 may be provided" at convenient' points m the apparatus. so' that a clogging of the same will be virtually precluded and a vacuum gauge 16 maybe coupled to the vaporizing chamber so that -anoperatorwill be entirely cognizant f of the degree of vacuum existingwith ill the same: Moreover; a petcock 11 may be 'coupledto the cover or any other suitable cas ing 'portion to allow air to' flow. into-the same when this is desired; but normallyit will be understood that this valve is closedand that the entire-casing, including the vaporizing chamber, provides a substantially ai-rtightenclosure;

When it is-desiredto close down the machine, this-is deneby simply turning'offfvalve' l5 and. opening petcock 11. Under these-circumstances, air is drawn into the interiorof the casing' and through-the body of the filtering material; This will dry such material and after adequate time has elapsed the switch 14 is thrown so that-both theheater'a-nd the motor are disconnected. The

, cover 32 is now released and swung upwardly'and the operator'- lifts the side walls 31 together with plate 39*fromthe base. The filtering material-incident to'the passage of the oil therethrough--isnot readily pliable and possesses the characteristics of a plastic. Therefore, unless this casingsection receives a severe jar, the material'will not pass through the openings of the plate 39 and this material may simply be discarded. While the mass of filtering material should'be renewed at" relatively frequent inter vals"(for example; once every twenty-four hours) the layer of fabric will have to be renewed only infrequently; Of course, it should be periodica'lly cleaned andtheilayer of filtering paper 43 should berenewed whenever necessary. Obviously; uponth'e material being again-built up within the casing body, the operation of the unit may be continued by simply again opening valve l5 and closing valve 11 and switch 14.

While the vacuum pump 65 may include a number of different constructions, it is preferred, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, that it embrace an annular chamber 18 within which an eccentrically disposed rotor 19 is mounted. Passages 80 and 8| afford access to the rotor chamber and a number of spring pressed vanes 82 are mounted by the rotor and serve to impel fluid through the chamber. In advance of the vanes or blades the rotor is reduced as indicated at 83. The reason that this construction is preferably resorted to is because when the pump is not opcrating fluid naturally collects at the bottom of the rotor chamber and some of this fluid will be disposed in advance of the vanes. When the pump is started this fluid which may be rather heavy and chilled, moves in advance of the vane and due to the speed of the rotor may not be discharged through outlet opening 8|. Thus, under these circumstances, the spaces provided at 83 accommodate this fluid which is not compressed to an extent such that a decided load would be created which might stall or injure the mechanism and this fluid will be eventually discharged through port 8!.

It has, moreover, been found, in connection with this pump, that a lubricating system including conduits 34 should be employed. Lubricant is forced through these conduits so that the uncondensed vapor passing through the pump will not corrode the pump parts because the latter are being constantly irrigated with lubricating oil which is preferably changed at the end of twenty-four hours operation.

Finally, it may be desired to couple a number of units embracing filtering bodies and vaporizers to, for example, a single operating mechanism embracing the pressure pumps and vacuum pump. In such case, valves 29 are connected to each filtering and vaporizing unit so as to assure an even distribution of fluid thereto. These valves, as illustrated in Fig. 4, may each include a body 29 formed with an intake port and an outlet port 86. A tubular valve body 87 may slidably cooperate with the intake port to control the flow of fluid therethrough and a spring 88 may normally urge this body to such a position. A screw threaded stem 89 is mounted by the casing and is provided with a pin 90 having slotted connection with the tubular body 87. Accordingly the tension on the spring may be adjusted although the body is at all times free to move to unseated position. The lower end of body 87 is slotted preferably as at 9|, and it follows that incident to a given pressure a certain amount of fluid may pass through casing 29. Thus, these valves associated with each other will serve to equalize the fiow to the same, it being of course obvious that insuch an event the piston rod 19 is adjusted to supply a greater volume of fluid to the several pipes extending to the units and also, if desired, the pitman may be connected to opening 64 so as to provide greater travel for the pistons.

In such an installation a single receiving tank 5 may be employed as may also a single distillate receiving tank 61. In the latter event a suitable connection (no-t shown) will be furnished, leading from the vaporizing chambers of the several units to the tank. In conclusion, it will be observed that the distillate may be drawn oh through a valve 92 or any other convenient passage, and it will be appreciated that regardless of the number of units provided, the check valve associated with cylinder 16 is under sufficient spring tension that under no circumstances will the vacuum, which might act through the supply pipe, be capable of unseating the check valve.

Finally, it will be understood that, if the apparatus be directly coupled, for example, to a Diesel engine or other oil consuming unit, the latter may deliver oil to be reclaimed to the tank 5, or if desired the unit might be directly coupled to the tube l3. In such an installation While the oil which has been reclaimed might be discharged through tube 58 to a suitable receptacle, it will usually be more desirable to connect this tube directly to the oil consuming unit, thus avoiding all unnecessary apparatus.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, among others, the several objects of the invention as aforenoted are achieved. It will be ob vious that numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be re- .sorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A reclaiming apparatus including a casing to contain .a body of filtering material and being formed with openings in its upper and lower faces, means providing a vaporizing chamber below said casing, said chamber being formed with an outlet opening through which unvaporized liquid may discharge, said chamber being formed with a further outlet opening for the passage of vaporized liquids, a tube connected to the opening formed in the upper face of the casing, said tube being extended to provide a preheating coil, a pump including a plurality of cylinders and pistons within the same, means for moving said pistons with respect to said cylinders, the end of said tube being connected to one of said cylinders whereby liquid under pressure is supplied to said casing, and a tube connected to the second of said cylinders and to the liquid outlet opening of said vaporizing chamber for positively withdrawing liquid through said opening.

THEODORE A. LA BRECQUE. 

